Last week I outlined the benefits of creating a career plan to boost success. But how do you actually write an actionable plan? Fortunately, it’s a surprisingly simple process.
To write an effective plan you first need to identify your profession of choice – academia or other (see last week’s post for tips if you’re still considering your career options). Identifying a non-academic career requires online research, networking, and possibly shadowing. The information gained through these efforts will be invaluable in writing an actionable career plan.
I think 5-years is the right amount of time to plan your career aims effectively. It enables you to take a high-level look at your life objectively, but is not so far in the distant future that it seems out of reach. 5 years is also sufficient time for you to achieve significant milestones.
First, define where you would like to be in 5 years. My 5-year career planner will allow you to lay out this process in simple actionable steps.
Planning backwards from your 5-year point, connect the milestone dots. Where do you need to be in 4, 3, 2, and 1 years’ time, in order to reach your goals in year 5? The following questions will help you consider what the milestones should include:
- What do you need to do to get to each level?
- What experience do you need that you currently don’t possess and how are you going to get it? If your decision is to transition into a professionally qualified career (clinician, dentist, architect, lawyer, chartered engineer etc.), it could be that your 5-year career plan consists mostly (or entirely) of training milestones.
- What promotions will you require?
- Does it include entrepreneurial activities and if so, should this be a side hustle at first or a full-time endeavour?
- Will you need to take on more responsibility and, if so, what? Do you need to get less valuable responsibilities off your plate?
- Do you need to broaden your skill set or narrow your focus?
- What is your salary aim at each step?
Keep your milestones and goals realistic. If you’ve done your research thoroughly, you should have an idea of how many years of experience are required in order to reach each step along the way. If you’re a 2nd year PhD student now, you’re unlikely to be the University vice-chancellor/principle within 5 years. Sometimes you can find ways to shorten the traditional path, but many careers are so well-defined that you will need to complete key steps.
You might end up with a plan that consists of a list of job titles and salaries between now and 5-years’ time. This is fine. But remember, the most important thing is acquiring the necessary skills and experience in between each, in order to progress. So, consider what opportunities you have to gain this knowledge or where you can create opportunities. If there is a way to make it relevant to your current work, you may be able to ‘hit two birds with one stone.’
For example, if you’re interested in science writing, find commentaries, blogs and guest posts you can write to discuss the latest research in your niche. Alternatively, you could always start your own blog! This will give you some initial experience for your CV and could help you obtain an entry level role.
Finally, you need to review your plan at set intervals — I like 90 days. Hold yourself accountable for reaching each milestone.
It’s inevitable that you will need to adjust your plan or objectives as your situation and the environment changes. Industry developments, new skill requirements, unexpected opportunities and personal life adjustments, are all examples of situations that can affect your plan. So be prepared to continuously check and realign it where necessary.
Include risk mitigation strategies for any unexpected eventualities as they arise. I could be something out of your control, such as a family member falling ill, in which case you will need to re-align your plan accordingly. Or it could be something that you weren’t aware of until you tried to reach the next step. For example, you might want to take a competitive position, but your networking skills are not good enough to help you identify suitable opportunities quickly enough as they arise. In this case, support and help from a mentor/career coach could give you the edge in achieving this step. So be flexible in your approach, re-evaluate your plan regularly and adjust as required.
In conclusion, your career plan is a personalised roadmap to a more successful future. I’ve developed a 5-year career planner to help you define your career direction, set yourself apart, and get to where you want to be.
Let me know how you get on. And until next time, here’s to your future career success!
Best wishes,
Vicky
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